Child&#39;s teeter



F. JOHNSON CHILD S TEETER Aug. 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 3.1961 m, N o .A nm nl lv w1 1, n J Wn L d LH W .wm l. o 4/ f//wV/ Ml W fQQ w Allg' 28, 1962 F. .JOHNSON 3,051,481

cmLn's TEETER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1961 I n JY@ Fred Joh/1.5%VENTOR.

United States Patent tiice Pague, Aw, ,8, 62

3,051,481 CHILDS TEETER Fred Johnson, 1925 N. Water St., Decatur, Ill.Filed May 3, 1961, Ser. No. 107,360 6 Claims. (Cl. 272-54) Thisinvention relates to a teetering device for amusement and exercisingpurposes and in particular to teetering devices for children.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a teeteringdevice for children which will accommodate occupants of unequal weightwithin a predetermined weight differential enabling the heavier occupantto readily apply all of the necessary displacing force in order to rockthe teeter or rocking -beam mem-ber.

Another object of this invention is to provide a teetering device whichis particularly adapted for children inasmuch as it is not physicallytiring for operation thereof to any great extent and is operative withreduced relative movement of the actuating linkage so as to provide asafely operating teetering device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a teetering devicerequiring no adjustment for accommodating occupants of unequal weightand which is so constructed as to be relatively harmless and less costlyto manufacture.

n 1In accordance with the foregoing objects, the teetering device of thepresent invention includes a support providing a fixed fulcrum aboutwhich a rocking beam or teetering member is pivoted. Seats areaccordingly lixed to the opposite ends of the 'rocking beam forreceiving the occupants. Located in front of the seats are handlemembers pivoted to the rocking beam within easy grasp of the occupants.A vertical lever is pivotally mounted by the support above the fulcrumfor the rocking beam with the lower end of said lever being in spacedclose relation above the fulcrum and link connected to the. rocking beamat spaced points on either side of the rocking beam fulcrum. The upperend of the lever is link connected to the pivoted handles on oppositesides of the rocking beam. Accordingly, pivotal displacement of therocking beam will cause or may be caused by pivotal displacement of thehandle members relative to the rocking beam which in turn will causepivotal displacement of the lever so that the lower end thereof will bedisplaced in one direction or the other with respect to the rocking beamwhich can only be accommodated by pivotal displacement of the rockingbeam relative to its fulcrum. The rocking beam displacing mechanism istherefore disposed entirely above the rocking beam and between thehandle members providing an' arrangement which is safer for children byvirtue of its locational disposition and the reduced amount vof relativemovement necessary to effect or accommodate pivotal movement of therocking beam. Also, the arrangement lends itself ideally for less-costly manufacture of the teetering device. lThese together with otherobjects and advantages which will Ibecome subsequently apparent residein the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafterdescribed and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a top plan View of the teetering device in accordance withthe present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the teetering device illustratedin FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by sectionline 3 3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by sectionline 4 4 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view taken through a plane indicated bysection line 5 5 in -FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional View taken through a plane indicated bysection line 6 6 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by sectionline 7 7 in FIG. 2.

FIGURE 8 is a partial side elevational view of the teetering deviceshown in a pivotally displaced position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that theteetering device which is generally referred to by reference numeral 10is constructed primarily of tubular frame members where substantiallyelongated members are required. The teetering device consists primarilyof a support assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 12which pivotally mounts about a fixed axis in spaced relation above theground, a rocking beam or teetering assembly generally referred to byreference numeral 14. A rocking beam displacing mechanism generallyreferred to by reference numeral 16 is operatively connected to thesupport assembly and rocking beam 14 and as indicated in FIGURE 2 islocationally disposed above the rocking beam assembly 14.

As more clearly seen in FIGURES l and 2, the support assembly 12includes a pair of triangular shaped tubular frame members =18 and 20which are spaced from each other at the base portions 22 and 24 by meansof a pair of parallel connecting base members 26 and 28. The apexportions of the triangular members 18 and 20 are spaced closer t-o eachother than the base portionsv22 and 24 thereof and support therebetweena'tubular shaft member 30 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 4 whichconstitutes the fulcrum for the rocking beam assembly 14. The shaft 30is connected to the triangular support members 18 and 20 through a pairof sleeve members 32 and 34 which are bolted by bolt members 36 to theshaft 30. The sleeve members I32 and 34 are connected as by welding to apair of upstanding arm members 38 and 40 respectively connected to theapex portion of the triangular base members 18 and 20. Centrallydisposed on the shaft member 30 and rigidly connected thereto as bywelding are a pair of spaced arms 42 and 44 which project upwardly in avertical direction and are rigid with the support assembly 12 so as toprovide a second lixed fulcrum or pivot axis through the bolt member '46which extends between the upper ends of the arms 42 and 44.

The rocking beam assembly 14 is formed by a pair of tubular sections 48and 50 which are rigidly interconnected by means of a pair of pivotbracket members S2 and 54 secured to the tubular sections 48 and 50 bybolt members 56 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3. The bracket members 52and 54 are respectively provided with spaced sleeve members 5'8 and 60for the purpose of pivotally mounting the rocking beam assembly 14 aboutthe fulcrum shaft 30' rigidly supported by the supporting assembly 12.Sleeve bearings 62 are therefore provided between the sleeve portions 58and 60 connected'to the bracket members 52 and 54 and the shaft 30.Pivotal displacement of the rocking beam assembly 14 is therebyaccommodated. The opposite outer ends of the rocking beam assembly 14therefore also has mounted thereon seats 64 and 66.

The mechanism 16 is mounted above the rocking beam assembly 14 and issafely operative under the control of the occupants on the seats 64 and66 to pivotally displace the rocking beam. assembly relative to itsfixed fulcrum shaft 30 on the support assembly 12. Accordingly, the boltmember 46 which is mounted between the arms 42 and 44 in verticallyspaced relation above the fulcrum shaft 30 rotatably receives a sleevemember 68 to which the lever member 70 is connected as more clearly seenin FIGURE 4. It will be observed that the portion 72 of the lever member70 extends above the bolt member 46 a greater distance than the lowerportion 74. Connected to the lower end of the lever member 70 by meansof bolt 76 are pairs of connecting link members 78 and 80 which extendfrom the lower end of the lever member 70 in opposite directions byequal amounts for pivotal connection to upstanding projections 82 and 84lixed to the tubular sections 48 and 50 respectively of the rocking beamassembly 14. It will be apparent therefore, that when the lever member70 is pivotally displaced about the pivot bolt member 46 the lower endthereof which is connected to both the connecting link members 78 and 80will be shifted in one direction or the other with respect to therocking beam 14 so as to cause the rocking beam to be pivotallydisplaced as more clearly seen in FIGURE 8.

Pivotal displacement of the lever member 70 is elfected by providing apair of handle members 86 and 88 adjacent to the seats 64 and 66. Thehandle members as more clearly seen in FIGURE 7, are constructed from apair of rod members 90 and 92 which are welded to each other along anupper portion thereof with the lower portions thereof straddling therocking beam assembly and pivotally connected thereto by means of boltmembers 94. The upper ends of the rod members 90 and 92 form handlebars96 while the lower ends of the rod members form footrest portions 98.Projecting members 100 and 102 are connected to the welded portions ofthe rod members 90' and 92 by means of which the handle members 86 and88 are pivotally connected to connecting rod members 104 and 106respectively. The other endsof the connecting rod members 104 and 106are pivotally connected by the bolt member 108 to the upper end of thelever member 70. Accordingly, pivotal displacement of the handle members186 and 88 in the same direction with respect to the rocking -beamassembly 14 to which they are pivotally connected, will cause pivotaldisplacement of the lever member 70 with respect to the fixed pivot bolt46 in order to pivotally displace the lower end of the lever member ashereinbefore indicated.

From the foregoing description, operation and utility of the teeteringdevice of the present invention will be apparent. It will therefore beappreciated, that the occupants of the seats may impart a displacingforce to the rocking beam assembly 14 by pivotal displacement of thehandle members 86 and 88 which will apply the displacing force to thelower end of the lever member 70y at a mechanical advantage in view ofthe greater length of the upper por-tion 72 of `the lever member thanthe lower portion 74. The displacing force applied to the lower end ofthe lever member 70 will however apply a reduced turning moment to therocking beam assembly 14 in view of the close spacing to the fulcrumshaft 30. Accordingly, the pivotally displacing force may be so arrangedwith respect to the Weight differential between the occupants of theseats `64 and 66 as to restrict use of the teetering device of thepresent invention to two children within a predetermined age range. Itwill furthermore be appreciated, that the arrangement of the mechanism16 is such that there will be a small amount of relative movementbetween the link elements thereof as compared to the pivotaldisplacement of the rocking beam assembly 14 effected. The mechanism fordisplacing the rocking beam will therefore be operated in a relativelysafe manner reducing the tendency of children to be injured thereby andis further rendered safer by virtue of its disposi- 4 tion above therocking beam assembly between the handles 86 and 88 thereof.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modiications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A teetering device comprising, a support, a teeter member centrallypivo-ted about a first fulcrum xedly mounted by the support in spacedrelation above the ground, a second fulcrum fixedly mounted on thesupport in vertical spaced relation above the rst fulcrum, lever meanspivotally mounted on the second fulcrum and disposed entirely above theteeter member, handle means pivotally mounted on the teeter memberadjacent opposite ends thereof and operatively connected to an upper endof the lever means, and connecting means operatively connecting a lowerend of the lever means to spaced points on the teeter member for pivotaldisplacement of the teeter member about the iirst 4fulcrum only inresponse to a displacing force applied through the handle means to theupper end of the lever means in excess of an amount proportional to apredetermined load differential at the opposite ends of the teetermember.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the upper end of the lever meansis spaced a larger distance from the second fulcrum than the lower endand the lower end is disposed in close spaced relation above the rstfulcrum.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said connecting means include apair of equal length connecting rods pivotally connected to the lowerend of the lever means andV extending in opposite directions` therefromfor spaced pivotal connection to the teeter member between the handlemeans to apply a reduced pivotally displacing moment to the teetermember.

4. The combination of claim 3, including a pair 0f link memberspivotally connected between the handle means and the upper end of thelever means to transmit the displacing force from the handle means tothe lower end of the lever means with a mechanical advantage.

5. The combination of claim l, wherein said connecting means include apair of equal length connecting rods pivotally connected to the lowerend of the lever means and extending in opposite directions therefromfor spaced pivotal connection to the teeter member between the handlemeans to apply a reduced pivotally displacing moment to the teetermember.

6. The combination of claim l, including a pair of link mem-berspivotally connected between the handle means and the upper end of thelever means to transmit the displacing force from the handle means tothe lower end of the lever means with a mechanical advantage.

References Cited in the file ofk this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,258,578 Kintzel Mar. 5, 1918

